Comcast HD Quality Reduction
There's a great post on the AVS forum about Comcast HD Quality going down, featuring screenshots and analysis.
A few months ago, I switched from Comcast to FiOS for more HD channels and a lower monthly price and I did notice that non-HD channels definitely looked better and HD channels were about the same. I have wondered how Comcast keeps playing catch-up with FiOS and the Dish Network -- in my last month or two of having Comcast it seems they were adding new HD channels every month. I know fiber has a ton of bandwidth available, but I wasn't sure how Comcast was figuring out how to stuff more channels into their old coax lines. Looks like according to this AVS forum post, they're reducing the quality of the HD channels to fit more channels in their available bandwidth.
This is absolutely of true of Comcast in Huntsville, Alabama.
Shows on Sci-Fi HD and USA HD are often unwatchable because of MPEG artifacting. MHD is mostly completely unwatchable (well, 90% of the programming on that channel is already unwatchable, but I've tried to watch some concert films and they're like watching YouTube videos).
Major network HD channels are great. I don't have pay channels, so I can't compare there...
Posted by: Christopher Palmer | March 31, 2008 at 04:41 PM
I find that the HD channels are unwatchable most of the time. The motion is usually very jerky.
Posted by: Mike Cohen | March 31, 2008 at 05:13 PM
I have Cox Cable in FFX VA and it looks like I have satellite in the rain forest. I asked a tech (setting up my cable cards in my TiVo, had to lie and tell them it was for a TV) if the reason the HD channels looked fuzzy was because they were degrading the signal. I was using their 1080i cable dvr. The answer was my old standard TiVo, it wasn't plugged in. Then it was my cables in the house not being quad shielded, we have a plan that covers all internal wiring which I confirmed with my wife there, the story then changed to the cameras used to film the HD content. Either way, channels still get bad, I have to call them and have them "fix" it every six months or so. Can't wait to see YouTube on my HD tv at 480i SD for $200/month.
Posted by: Greg | April 03, 2008 at 07:39 PM
They've learned their lesson from DISH.
Posted by: Eideard | April 09, 2008 at 07:44 AM
I like HD better than blue ray, maybe because I got a HD unit
Britec www.britec.org.uk
Posted by: Brian | April 23, 2008 at 03:27 AM
I am trying to find out why comcast has not upgraded there HD channels, some of my friends have another service and they have channels like (spike, tlc, etc ) all add on those channels say avalible in HD but i don't have them. cane i get some answers.
Posted by: george haskell | July 02, 2008 at 02:48 AM